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latest read ... 'The Great Indian Novel' by shashi tharoor. finally got round to reading it. quite an interesting book, actually. it's an honest attempt to go off the beaten track and do something genuinely different - the result is a book that's a trifle confusing at times, but for the most part, quite a pleasant read.

"Whenever I feel the need for exercise, I go and lie down for half an hour until the feeling passes." - Will Rogers

latest read ... 'The Great Indian Novel' by shashi tharoor. finally got round to reading it. quite an interesting book, actually. it's an honest attempt to go off the beaten track and do something genuinely different - the result is a book that's a trifle confusing at times, but for the most part, quite a pleasant read.

it's not really an interpretation in that it doesn't try to offer a commentary on the Mahabharata. instead, it recreates the epic and presents it in modern, twentieth century terms. so you'll find that the story itself is an interesting blend of characters from the Mahabharata and events from the indian freedom struggle. lots of parallels drawn between characters and situations ... gets a little contrived at times, but eminently worth reading.

"Whenever I feel the need for exercise, I go and lie down for half an hour until the feeling passes." - Will Rogers

My latest read is "Heartsongs", this book will be very good for you & you children, it was written by a wonderful boy who is not longer alive. "What is a Heartsong?
Mattie has been writing poetry since he was three years old. "I write to express my thoughts and feelings," he explains. You hear the word "heartsongs" a lot in his work. "Your heartsong is your inner beauty," says Mattie. "It's the song in your heart that wants you to help make yourself a better person, and to help other people do the same. Everybody has one."
He wanted to be remembered: As a "Poet, Peacemaker, and Philosopher Who Played" . His name was Mattie Stepanekhttp://www.mattieonline.com

Heartsong( Mattie was 6 years old when he wrote this poem)

I have a song, deep in my heart,
And only I can hear it.
If I close my eyes and sit very still
It is so easy to listen to my song.
When my eyes are open and
I am so busy and moving and busy,
If I take time and listen very hard,
I can still hear my Heartsong.
It makes me feel happy.
Happier than ever.
Happier than everywhere
And everything and everyone
In the whole wide world
Happy like thinking about Going to Heaven when I die.
My Heartsong sounds like this:

I love you! I love you!
How happy you can be!
How happy you can make
The whole world be!

And sometimes it's other
Tunes and words, too,
But it always sings the
Same special feeling to me.
It makes me think of
Jamie, and Katie and Stevie,
And other wonderful things.
This is my special song.
But do you know what?
All people have a special song
Inside their hearts!
Everyone in the show wide world
Has a special Heartsong.
If you believe in magical, musical hearts,
And if you believe you can be happy,
Then you, too, will hear your song.

March 1996
*********

FOR OUR WORLD
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

For those who like to read true stories, read
Murphy's Boy by Torey Hayden. She's a child psychologist and narrates her experiences very well. This book is about a boy who had been mute for several years and started to talk after Torey came into picture and revealed his sad past. She has written few other books as well.. haven't read those yet!

FOR OUR WORLD
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.

Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

September 12, 2001

Alana,

I read this poem by this little boy somewhere...very touching indeed..

Its sad that only people with short lives have such broader and peaceful insight of life...